Grand National 2024: Coral Gold Cup winner heads Aintree betting

“It’s the Coral Gold Cup, it’s a wonderful, wonderful race and one of the biggest chases of the season, so you can’t really have high expectations but we knew he was in good order and we knew there might be some exposure in his mark over that trip if it worked.

“It’s weird how things work out but thankfully Gav was on board and he knows the horse so well. Thankfully it all worked well in the end.”

I Am Maximus proves stamina

Another of the four joint-favourites in the 2024 Grand National odds is I Am Maximus after he made a victorious return to Fairyhouse to secure Grade One glory in the Bar One Racing Drinmore Novice Chase.

The seven-year-old won the Irish Grand National at the track back in April, defying his novice status to claim a length success in the Easter highlight for trainer Willie Mullins.

Having his first start since then – and his last in novice company – I Am Maximus travelled well into the race for Jody McGarvey, having been happy to let 5/4 favourite Letsbeclearaboutit cut out much of the early running.

Found A Fifty was also to the fore and it looked between the three of them coming down to the final two obstacles, with Letsbeclearaboutit the first to crack.

The BoyleSports Irish Grand National hero returns to land the Grade 1 @BarOneRacing Drinmore Novice Chase!

I Am Maximus wins our highlight over fences today for Willie Mullins, Jody McGarvey and J P McManus 👏 pic.twitter.com/o7S0g0TnsL

— FairyhouseRacecourse (@Fairyhouse) December 3, 2023

A slow jump at the last hardly helped Found A Fifty’s cause and, dropping back to two and a half miles – nine furlongs less than the Irish National distance – I Am Maximus (11/1) had more than enough stamina to assert again on the run-in and win by two and a half lengths.

Mullins said: “That’s a nice bonus on his last day as a novice. He looks a class horse now rather than a handicapper, so maybe we’ll have to make different plans for him now.

“This year, we were maybe looking at going for the English National and whether we change and go for Grade One races now, I’m not sure.

“We’ll have to have a word with Frank (Berry, racing manager) and JP (McManus, owner) and see what they want to do.”

2024 Grand National odds

16/1 Corach Rambler, Datsalrightgino, Gaillard Du Mesnil, I Am Maximus

20/1 Fastorslow, Kitty’s Light, Mahler Mission, Monbeg Genius

25/1 Feronily, Noble Yeats, Vanillier

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All odds and market correct at date of publication